What memories we make : the complete MainMan recordings 1971-1974

"It's one of rock history's less palatable flaws, the fact that mention of Dana Gillespie will inevitably focus on the years she spent in the public orbit of one David Bowie ... when Mainman founder Tony Defries took over Bowie's management in 1970, Gillespie was signed in much the same breath as Bowie, and the first attempt to land them a new record deal was a 1971 promo album, split one side apiece between the two of them ... Weren't Born a Man, in particular, is stunning, from the two-part opening "Stardom Road," shifting from impassioned orchestration to raunchy rock, through "Dizzy Heights," "Mother Don't Be Frightened" and "Backed a Loser," and onto the mournful "All Gone." The title track, meanwhile, is cabaret blues par excellence, and what a treat it is to find an earlier, even rockier version of the same song on the flip of the Libido 45.Onto disc two, and if Second Fiddle is a less cohesive set, still it shimmers "Don't Mind Me" in particular is glorious and her bluesy future is already in sight. The demos that might have shaped Gillespie's next Mainman LP continue in that vein, and we now hear what a marvel that could have been ... forget the Bowie connection. This is a fabulous collection in its own right".

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"Dana Gillespie went on to record many albums in a Blues mode after breaking loose from MainMan, where she was caught in the crossfire between Bowie and Defries' falling out. But as What Memories We Make ably demonstrates is what a top talent she was at the time and how it is near-criminal that she didn't achieve mainstream success. Weren't Born A Man is a terrific album, full of guts, flair and raw emotion, with Dana's peerless voice in full cry and Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle is a more than credible follow-up. It is good to have the 1971 promo tracks, the Libido single and the unreleased demos, which help to give a fuller picture of a talent blossoming. With some great sleeve notes and input from Dana herself, this is an excellent compilation of her work in the mid-70s and still sounds wonderful today".

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